Manager - Cooperative Research Program Quality, Compliance, and Training

Job Description Summary:

** NOTE A COVER LETTER IS REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION **

Serves as a centralized resource and manages activities supporting contractor compliance, subaward oversight, relationship management, and training across CRP programs. The position works closely with program directors and managers, technical project managers, financial partners, the Office of Contracts and Grants (OGC), Procurement Services, contractors, and external stakeholders to monitor CRP contracting activities, ensure regulatory and institutional compliance, and promote operational consistency and risk mitigation.

Leads the development, coordination, and delivery of training and guidance for research proposal submitters, contractors, sub-awardees, and other external entities engaged in CRP programs. The role engages external vendors to design and deliver scalable, high-quality training solutions and collaborates with contractors and stakeholders to identify programmatic and process improvement opportunities that enhance efficiency, compliance, and the overall CRP participant experience.

Establishes processes and procedures to ensure the effective and efficient operation. Has authority to take whatever action deemed advisable or necessary, subject only to organizational and departmental policies and rules. Has full supervisory responsibilities, including hiring, training, and performance management for assigned staff.

Job Description:

Responsibilities

Contractor Compliance and Relationship Management

Collaborates with the Office of Contracts and Grants (OGC) for responsibilities related to management of contracts and subawards.

Monitors activities of sub-awardees to confirm that subawards are in compliance and used for authorized purposes; reviews required financial and performance reports.

Monitors CRP contracts from initiation through closeout; reports infractions and reviews contract issues for possible risks and liabilities.

Contributes to drafting, negotiating, and executing contracts and other legal agreements.

Serves as a point of contact for contractors, partners, and staff to address contractual issues in collaboration with CRP management and project managers.

Maintains records of contracts and legal agreements, with a focus on monitoring ongoing compliance.

Develops risk management strategies to address contractor underperformance.

Designs control systems to document and address cases of CRP/NAS contract terms and policy violations.

Ensures that CRP activities align with institutional policies, regulations, and ethical standards.

Provides a consistent, high-quality contractor experience and support contractors in understanding compliance requirements.

Develops collaborative partnerships with technical project managers, Procurement Services, and Subaward Administration to support effective contractor engagement.

Training Development and Delivery

Leads the development and delivery of training and orientation programs for research proposal submitters, contractors, sub-awardees, and other external entities participating in CRP programs.

Designs and implements ongoing training programs for technical project managers and external CRP participants to ensure understanding of CRP processes, compliance requirements, performance expectations, and proposal standards.

Develops guidance materials, toolkits, instructional resources, and process documentation to clarify proposal requirements, contracting expectations, and compliance obligations.

Engages and manages external vendors to design, enhance, and deliver training programs in multiple formats, including in-person, virtual, and on-demand learning platforms.

Evaluates training effectiveness using participant feedback, performance indicators, and compliance trends; implement improvements as needed.

Collaborates with internal stakeholders to identify knowledge gaps and compliance risks that can be mitigated through targeted training and clearer process guidance.

Program and Process Improvement

Gathers feedback from contractors, proposal submitters, and other CRP stakeholders to identify recurring operational challenges and improvement opportunities.

Partners with contractors and program leadership to identify programmatic and procedural enhancements that strengthen efficiency, compliance, and participant experience.

Analyzes compliance trends, audit findings, and contractor performance data to recommend process improvements.

Creates, modifies, updates, and implements CRP procedural guidance and manuals to promote consistency and scalability across programs.

Advises CRP senior leadership on risks, mitigation strategies, policy development, and operational improvements.

Stakeholder Outreach and Engagement

Develops a process-driven approach to outreach and engagement with research partners and stakeholders.

Identifies partnership opportunities through collaboration with other TRB divisions and National Academies units.

Collaborates with CRP and TRB management to align internal goals with new and existing partner relationships.

Participates, as appropriate, in TRB Annual Meeting, oversight committee and board meetings, workshops, conferences, webinars, and other events.

Cultivates strong relationships with current and prospective partners to ensure a positive and consistent CRP experience.

Staff Management

Manages assigned staff. Ensures staff are appropriately trained and plans for staff development. Mentors staff. Initiates personnel actions. Conducts performance reviews. Interprets and ensures consistent application of organizational policies.

Confidentiality

Maintains confidentiality. Handles secure, privileged, sensitive, or confidential information with discretion and in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.

Maintains strict confidence to prevent disclosure.

Accesses such information strictly for work-related purposes, and ensures that it is securely stored, transmitted, and disposed of in compliance with organization guidelines.

Ensures procedures are in place to safeguard confidentiality and prevent unauthorized disclosure.

Provides ongoing training and guidance to team members to reinforce best practices in handling confidential information.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and OMB Circulars.

Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.

Ability to communicate complex program and compliance requirements to diverse audiences.

Ability to solve complex problems using sound judgment and analytical thinking.

Ability to operate with substantial independence and manage multiple, complex projects.

Ability to lead, train, and develop staff.

Ability to build and sustain effective teams and collaborative relationships.

Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Minimum Education/Training Requirements: Master’s degree in business administration, law, finance, or related discipline, or equivalent knowledge.

Minimum Experience: Six years of related professional experience, two of which were in a supervisory capacity.

Licenses, Certification or Registration: None.

Any qualification to be considered equivalent, in lieu of stated minimum, requires the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources .

Other Details

Supervisory Responsibilities/Controls

Typically reports to Program Director. General direction is provided. May supervise or assists in the supervision of program staff.

Mental and Physical Capabilities

Ability to use a computer and applicable hardware/software to perform responsibilities.

Ability to use multiple technology collaboration platforms, including collaboration tools, e.g., Microsoft Teams, Asana.

Ability to write and create content.

Ability to receive direction from multiple staff/supervisors.

Ability to attend in-person m